Liquid fuel burner



July 13, 1937. L. H. REE-S 2,086,639

LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed Oct. 19, 1934 f ATTORNEY.

Patented July 13, 1937 www A PATENT. OFFICE LIQUID FUEL BURNER Leslie H.Rees, Denver, Colo.

Application October 19, 1934, SerialNo. `749,057

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a liquid fuel burner and has for its principalobject, the provision of a burner in which liquid fuel will be admixed,atomized, and dispersed in an exceedingly dispersed condition in ahighly porous, i-lre resisting, dispersion medium so that the fuel willbe efficiently prepared and converted into a highly inflammable, easilycombustible condition which will result in efficient combustion.

Another object `of the invention is to provide means fo-r introducingand dispersing either or both air and water into the highly dispersedfuel to assist in the combustion thereof.

y A further object is to'provide a dispersing medium for use in liquidfuel burners which will be low in cost, and economical to use; whichwill not pack but will remain highly porous; which will efficiently actto break up the incoming combustion constituents into a rich combustiblemixture; `and which will not be affected by the liquids used or heatgenerated in the burner.

A still further object is to provide a burner top for supporting thecombustion which will be highly porous, fire resistant, and easilymanufactured to suit any desired conditions of use.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is hadto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all Views of the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a burner in which the invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the burner of Fig. 1, taken on the line 22. In Fig. 2 the burner is illustrated installed in a base or housing ofrefractory protective and supporting material.

Fig. 3 is a detail side view, partly in section,

illustrating a name spreading cap which may be employed with the burner.

The invention employs a cup-like container III, which may be of anysuitable size, depending upon the particular installation in which theburner is to be used, and formed of any suitable fire resistingmaterial. It is preferred to employ a relatively thick-walled, cast ironcylinder for the container II), provided with a closed bottom Il.

The major portion of the container IIJ is lled with a loose mass or bedOf any suitable coarse granulated porous, flreproof material of a naturewhich will not pack, but will form a porous massr capable ofwithstanding a high temperature and having a relativelyA highpercentage. of voids or interstices.

The most satisfactory material for this purpose has been found to beroasted vermiculite. Vermiculite is prepared by roasting an ore of thealtered mica type such as jefferisite or zonolite, kerrite, maconite,etc., or any other ore containing a high percentage of altered mica.Such an ore when roasted, expands to many times its original volume,owing to the separation and corrugation of the mica sheets or layers.The resultant, light, highly porous product has been found highlysatisfactory for the present inven-` tion. This material can be groundto any desired degree of fineness, and forms a light, reproof, highlyporous mass. Granules of this'material varying in size from l to 1/4inch has been found to be most satisfactory for the present purpose.

The loose granulated material I2 is held in place and covered by meansof a porous cap I3. The cap I3 may have any desired form, but ispreferably formed with an inwardly inclined conical border I4 leading toa semi-spherical depression I3. This cap may be formed of any suitableporous fireproof material. A very satisfactory material has been foundto be a mixture o place upon the loose vermiculite in the container IIJby rst placing a convex disc of wire screen I 5 over the vermiculite,thence pouring the above described mixture thereon, and molding the sameto the required shape. After setting, this mixture produces a fireproofcap of high porosity.

The burner can be used by simply pouring alcohol or other volatilecombustible liquid into the depression I3I of the cap, and allowing itto percolate therethrough into the interstices of the vermiculite untilthe desired amount has been completely absorbed. 'I'he wet surface ofthe cap is then ignited, producing a name thereabove. This flame heatsthe cap I3 and the upper portion of the vermiculite, causing avaporization and gasication of the fuel, which, together with capillaryattraction, forces it through the porous top into the ame. Such aprocedure, however, is not continuous in operation.

For a continuous operation in a permanent installation, a liquid fuelpipe I6 is run through the wall of the container Il), preferablyterminating in a suitable distributing head I'I. The fuel is fedcontinuously into the porous interior through the pipe I6 so as tocontinuously feed the ame above the cap I3.

For installations requiring a higher temperature, an air pipe I8 may berun into the container IB, adjacent the bottom thereof, and providedwith suitable perforations I9 for distributing air lo under pressurethrough the porous mass to force the vaporizing fuel through the capthereof, and to supply additional combustion oxygen. During its passagethrough the porous mass the air Will be brought into intimate contactwith, and become highly dispersed in the fuel so as to provide a highlyefficient mixture.

Still higher temperatures are obtainable by running a water pipe 2l!through the Wall of the container IU above the air pipe I8, andproviding Z the water pipe with any suitable distributing head 2l. Theair and capillary attraction forces the water toward the top of thecontainer where it adrnixes with and vaporizes with fuel. A mixture ofsteam, air and fuel is then forced through 25 the cap, resulting in anexceedingly high temperature iiame.

It is believed that the Water vapor in steam coming in Contact with thehighly heated vermiculite, and the heated cap I3, in close association30 with the hydro-carbon of the fuel, forms a mixture of carbon monoxideand hydrogen or water gas (CD4-2H) in direct contact Ywith the flame.

Both of these constituents are of course highly inammable and greatlyincrease the heat of the 35 resulting flame.

The supply pipes leading into the container IB are of course providedwith suitable valves, such as indicated at 22 and 23. In permanentinstallations, the container may be embedded in masonry 40 or a re clayhousing, such as indicated at 24.

In some installations, especially in hot air furnaces, it is desirableto have the flame spread outwardly so as toheat the walls of thefirebox. This may be accomplished by placing a flame spreader, such asindicated at 25, Fig. 3, over the cap I3. The name spreader illustratedis formed of heat resisting material of high fusing point and consistsof a relatively flat projecting top from which a perforated cylinder orsleeve 26 projects downwardly. The sleeve 26 is formed With suitableperforations 21. This flame spreader is positioned in the broken lineposition of Fig. 2, and the gas rising from the mid-portion of the capI3 enters the sleeve 26, passes through the perforations 21, and burnsas a flame under the spreading cap 25.

The burner, even when used With the heavier fuel oils, produces apractically colorless, noiseless ame of exceedingly high temperature.This flame can be very accurately controlled by manipulation of the airvalve 23. The burner can be lighted without preheating or generation.'Ihe heated porous particles soon form an ideal generator for the fuel.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may bevaried, Within the scope of the appended claim, Without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent isz- A liquid fuel burner comprising: a container; aloose bed of small particles of roasted vermiculite in said container; aporous cap of refractory fire resisting material holding said materialin place; means for feeding liquid fuel into said bed; an air conduitopening into said container for feeding air upwardly through said bed;and a Water conduit leading into said container.

LESLIE H. REES.

